Welcome to Punta Canada: more and more Quebecers are choosing the Dominican Republic in winter

PUNTA CANA | Florida is losing ground among Quebec snowbirds who are more numerous than ever to turn to the Dominican Republic, particularly for its year-round tropical heat, the more affordable cost of living, its welcoming people and its security aspect.

The newspaper visited this Caribbean island in November to take stock of this booming phenomenon, which even gave birth to the expression “Punta Canada”.

What is striking as soon as you set foot there is that beyond the rhythms hot of the famous bachata, we hear French spoken there from Punta Cana to Puerto Plata, via Cabarete and Las Terrenas, where a large French-speaking community has been established.

It is precisely for this reason that Daniel Michaud, retired from the construction industry in Montreal, chose to settle in Las Terrenas, on the Samana peninsula, three years ago. “I came to discover it and I fell in love, especially since I don’t speak Spanish,” says the man who has since opened a restaurant by the sea.

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Real estate boom

In Punta Cana, a major real estate boom is attracting more and more Quebecers, who want to live the Dominican experience outside of all-inclusives.

Many people want to take advantage of the golf courses, beaches, restaurants, but also the shopping centers of this city, located at the eastern end of the island.

“Just like at home, without the need to shovel!”

“It’s a wonderful place. We have the heat, the sea, very beautiful beaches, the grocery store. It’s like we’re at home, without the need to shovel!” says retiree from Montreal, Pierre Scullion, aged 76.

For others, Cabarete wins, for its water sports and its numerous bars and restaurants located directly on the beach.

This is the case, among others, of Michel Tougas, who appreciates the proximity of services in this small village. “We had planned to spend our winters in Florida, but the cost of living is too expensive. We much prefer to come here, since we can do everything on foot,” describes the sixty-year-old from Saint-Jérôme.

Other snowbirds prefer the more typical and family atmosphere of Puerto Plata.

According to Quebecers who have lived in this northern city for a long time, the number of snowbirds has more than doubled in the last two years. “We see a lot of new faces. There is a wind of change,” says Jean-François Baulne, owner of the restaurant Le Petit François in Puerto Plata, a true haven for Quebecers.

Safe and well cared for

The many Quebecers met in the Dominican Republic also said they felt safe, whether at restaurants, at the beach, or when traveling, from the north to the south of the island. The large tourist police presence also contributes to promoting this strong feeling of security, we are told.

Furthermore, the quality of the hospitals also impressed many of the snowbirds met by The newspaper, some of whom sought health care. “It’s very good, the service is very good, I have nothing to say,” says Maurice Richard, 68, originally from Terrebonne.

Bye bye Florida

It is in particular to escape the significant price increases and the unfavorable exchange rate in Florida that several snowbirds are migrating to the Dominican Republic this winter, where all records are being broken in tourism.

Its ease of access by direct flight and its temperatures around 30°C during the winter months make this country very attractive for Quebecers wishing to escape winter.

Poutine on the beach

And, a sign that Quebec is increasingly present there, it is even easy to enjoy a traditional poutine or a plate of smoked meatboth feet in the sand, from the north to the south of the island.

A Quebecer produces his own cheese curds and smoked meat there, even supplying several restaurants, to make the gastronomic experience worthy of our greatest snacks.

2023, record year for Quebec tourists

In its entire history, the Dominican Republic has never welcomed as many Quebecers as last year. This was stated by the country’s Minister of Tourism, David Collado, in an exclusive interview with The newspaper in autumn.

In just one year, the number of Quebec tourists in the Dominican Republic has increased by at least 66%. “Never seen before,” he says.

According to the most recent figures provided by the Ministry of Tourism, nearly 300,000 Quebecers had chosen this destination as of last September, well before the arrival of the snowbirds.

“A market that is exploding”

In the fall, the country’s Minister of Tourism expected to receive more than a million Canadian tourists for the year 2023. As of last October, 834,000 Canadians had already visited the Caribbean island.

“Wave” of Quebecers

This “wave” of new Quebec snowbirds can be explained in particular by the fact that 40% of Canadian tourists are from Quebec, specifies the minister.

“We have between 2.7 and 3 million American tourists every year. But, in Canada, there have been more than 1.1 million tourists this year so far [en octobre 2023]. If we take this figure per capita, Canada is by far the number one country for the Dominican Republic,” says Mr. Collado.

According to the minister, more than 40% of the Dominican Republic’s economy is supported by tourism.

More passengers to the Republic

The airlines which serve this destination from Quebec, namely Sunwing, Air Transat and Air Canada, also claim to have increased their offer to the Dominican Republic by 20% to 31% this year, compared to last year. In particular, they added weekly direct flights to the Republic, from Montreal, Quebec and Bagotville.

The carrier Air Canada alone made 906 departures from Canada to this Caribbean country from January to October 2023, which represents 20% more than the same period in 2022.

The story is the same at Sunwing. The general director, Lyne Chayer, also claims to observe a craze for the destination of Puerto Plata, the tourist cradle of the Dominican Republic, which has become greatly “energized” in the last two years.

This report was produced thanks to the International Reporting Grant from the QMI Agency